Nu Energy Collective Unleashed at HHA — preview with Nu Energy hero Allan McGrath
Reported by benz
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Submitted 20-02-06 14:34
You may or may not know, The Nu Energy Collective are far more than just a scintillating live PA. In broader terms, The Nu Energy Collective is the umbrella term for the hard dance empire that Kevin Energy established way back in 1998.
Nu Energy started out life simply as a record label, an outlet for Kevin’s works that he had been producing for Sharkey’s Bonkers Mix CDs (hardcore/freeform in case you didn’t know). Nu Energy have since evolved to include a massive online record shop, an MP3 store, a DJ/Artist management agency, an online hard dance community hub, plus the occasional massive party.
So while the Nu Energy Collective are busy in the studio making the beats, who’s left to run the show down on the floor? Step up one Allan McGrath.
You may recognize Allan’s name from his superb interview work for this very website, or even for his broader journalistic output in the fantastic Upfront magazine [www.upfrontmag.com], and DJ Magazine. At Nu Energy Collective, he is one of the people responsible for holding things together and ensuring that the whole business runs smoothly. I had the opportunity to find out a bit more about Allan and how he got involved with some of his DJ heroes at Nu Energy as they all prepare for this weekends massive Hard House Academy vs HQ party. The N.E.C. boys are busy in the studio cooking up filthy gems for their ‘Unleashed’ set, meanwhile Allan is running the ship and ensuring that a smooth journey to Brixton Academy will ensue! But why the trout pout Allan?
Your full name, date of birth, place of birth, and preferred variety of fish please sir!
Oooh sir, this is all a bit intimate isn’t it? Not sure I should be admitting to this but my full name is Allan Desmond McGrath (Dad — what the Devil’s dirty foreskin were you thinking with that middle name?), I was born in St Helier’s Hospital, Sutton, about 23 years back and my favourite fish is probably a nice meaty swordfish steak, grilled gently in fine olive oil and Mediterranean capers… but then I have been known to get my cod on.
What formed the basis for your introduction into dance music? Had you been passionate about music before you discovered it?
Music has always been a driving passion in my life. I’ve got memories of me and my brother moon-walking for the family to the ‘Bad’ album, idolising Axl Rose when I was listening to bands like Guns ‘N’ Roses, Rage Against The Machine and Nirvana in my early teens and even one particularly embarrassing memory of my brother catching me singing full-pelt to the Spice Girls album when I thought the house was empty! But enough of that!
So anyway dance music… I’d always loved the likes of Capella (still f*ckin’ do!) and 2Unlimited but the real ear-opening ‘f*ck-me-sideways-with-a-rusty-tentpole’ moment was when a mate lent me a tape of the Ellis Dee mix of the first World Dance CD. ‘Chopper’, ‘Lighter’, ‘This Style’, ‘Arsonist’… it was pretty much the definitive jump-up d’n’b mix and I didn’t even know what drum and bass was at that point! I think I listened to it solidly for about 3 days until it eventually got chewed up! From there I was hunting information wherever possible, tuning into every pirate around and collecting every piece of dance music I could find… from the early Ministry of Sound albums to old skool packs, drum and bass albums and even Sun City garage tapepacks.
Can you remember what the first club you went to was? Were you hooked instantly?
Can I remember? Does Pete Byrne suck cock?! I’d been building up to my first proper rave (read RAVE, not club) since I had my brain rewired into rave mode by the sonic electrocution of THAT Ellis Dee tape. After our GCSEs me and my mates decided it was time to have a go and trooped up to Slammin’ Vinyl at Bagley’s in our tracksuits about seven years back. The flyer had the set times for all rooms on it so I’d already mapped out the whole night’s raving from start to finish two weeks before the event!
Being an innocent young soul, I did it totally straight bar five extra strong coffees before yet had to be dragged out of the Bagley’s Bunker at half five, literally screaming into Mark EG’s DJ booth because the whole experience had left me so raging with energy. My mates had wanted to chip off early due to fatigue and then had to listen to me banging on like a hyperactive little punk the whole way home. Lucky they love me eh?
How long have you been working at Nu Energy for? How did you meet Kevin Energy and the guys behind the label?
Funnily enough, it was at that very rave when my love for the freeform sound of Nu Energy was truly ignited. I’d just bought the seminal Brainstorm album mixed by Sharkey and Mark EG which had loads of Kevin’s tracks on and had made it a major point to see him and Sharkey in action at Slammin’… seriously, the album had totally opened my ears to a hardcore sound that was futuristic, ravey, sometime even dark but rarely cheesy.
Problem was only my mate Dan was up for catching their set as the rest of our massive were all ardent drum and bass heads (bless, our Nike sports socks eh). Anyway, when we both returned to the d’n’b room, all the others were convinced we’d ‘taken a pill’ as we had massive grins spread across our faces and were now raving to Zinc like our lives depended on it…but we hadn’t, we were just so outrageously buzzing after seeing Kevin and Sharkz tear it up for two hours.
After that, I followed the label like a hound for years and got to know Kevin in the process, first through the Wax City shop he worked in, then the raves and later through my work at underground dance magazine Upfront as I’d always try to feature Nu Energy and its artists wherever possible. Then about 18 months back, I was sitting post-uni, jobless, not entirely sure what to do next and a megalithic weekend hangover to contend with when I get this email from Kev…
‘Yo, what you up to? Left uni yet? Got an offer you might be interested in… Kev’.
As it turned out, he was looking to expand his website, move the business up a gear and had earmarked me for the position knowing I knew their ways inside out and was moving towards a job in the music industry. I took it in and the rest is history…
What exactly are your roles at the Nu Energy Collective? What does the business currently comprise of?
The business can basically be split up into three main areas. The Nu Energy Collective of labels, which includes our labels like Nu Energy, Sharkey’s Kaotik, and Relentless Vinyl, which we run, A&R and release our music through.
Then there’s the NEC DJ Agency, which looks after and pushes our in-house acts such as the Nu Energy Collective PA, Sharkey, Kevin Energy and rising hardcore stars like Arkitech and Mark Ashley.
Finally, but by no means least, there’s the NEC Online store which brings in a huge amount of turnover and is prided by us as one of the most responsive and extensive online stores of underground hardcore and hard dance — as well as being the only place to get our own releases and MP3s totally upfront and ahead of the other stores.
So what do I do? Well apart from making more tea than Father Ted’s Mrs Doyle and shouting “ALL THE RAVERS” at random intervals, my office role ranges from looking after the release schedule for all the labels, managing all our artists’ diaries, pushing for gigs wherever possible, as well as keeping the site updated with fresh news, interviews and competitions. The site is our central communication point with all our followers and I remember how much I appreciated keeping up to date with new release audio and artists news, so more and more I’m making sure there’s at least one new information piece every day and new features most weeks to keep things fresh.
Who else works alongside you and what do they do? From what I know you seem like a bit of a crazy bunch at Nu Energy!
A crazy bunch? Ha ha… I don’t know what you’re talking about mate! First person who should get a major mention is Kevin’s Dad, Derek. He’s a partner with Kevin in the whole thing and puts in all the work behind the scenes to make sure our accounts are up to scratch and everyone gets paid properly. Not to mention being a sterling bloke. Gordy started here about a year ago and runs the online store pretty much on his own, dealing with all our orders and making sure all our customers’ queries get answered immediately. As for Kevin, well, when he’s not getting his hair pruned at Toni & Guy or making tunes he’s in the office putting in the graft and isn’t afraid to pick record orders if it’s a stupidly busy Monday or answer some of my more mundane bimbo questions about basic computer functions.
Do you find the job stressful? Or does the enjoyment you get out of working at N.E. make up for it?
Stressful? Well, there’s always 101 things to do and we’re never short of a task but we always do it with a smile on our faces and Kev’s not the sort to crack the whip too hard. While we’re moving up as a force, I think we’re quite careful not to over extend ourselves and always make sure we’re running well within the limits of time and our capabilities. Fortunately, things seem to be falling in to place very nicely…
What are the best and the worst things about the job?
The best? Well apart from being able to listen to Scooter in the office (how many jobs can offer such indulgent pleasures??), the role itself is so varied that I enjoy so many aspects. Being involved in the line-ups and preparations for the Freeformation parties at Hidden fulfils an ambition I’ve had for years and it’s always satisfying taking bookings for our artists and know that our music is getting out there.
The worst? To be honest, I can’t genuinely think of anything that irks me too much although the all male office could do with a women’s touch now and again… and maybe a slight pay rise, as you can see from the photos I’ve only really got one proper t-shirt although it is a particularly smart shade of red.
Your boys The Nu Energy Collective will be playing a very special set at Hard House Academy vs HQ on February 25th. Care to divulge?
My boys?! My boys?! You make me sound like some hard dance version of Mary Poppins! Well, once I’ve dressed them in cleanly pressed clothes, fed them all hearty home-cooked meals and lead them on a group sing-song of ‘Supercalifraglistic’, ‘my boys’ will be performing their very first UNLEASHED set for Frantic. Haha… in all seriousness, what’s this UNLEASHED set you talk off, I hear you ask…?
Ok, it’s basically the hardest, most twisted and full-on PA the guys have played at Frantic ever. With solid breedings in underground hardcore and full-on hard dance, the guys have always been known for their more full-on and ferocious material but have often held back that vital extra notch of intensity for the last twenty minutes of their Frantic PAs. But knowing the reaction it triggers each time, they’re now unleashing their more full-on tracks right from the off and are also writing a selection of new ultra-twisted tracks specifically for the PA. Sit tight and hold on to the sides people...
Nu Energy Collective Live at Frantic @ Brixton Academy June 2005
How long have the N.E.C. been performing live? Has the dynamic of the set changed much over the years?
The NEC PA has been performing live for nearly four years now and I still remember making the pilgrimage from Leeds where I was studying at university to travel down to Birmingham where they were performing one of their first ones. K Complex, Sharkey and Kevin Energy have always been the core members with Allen AMS becoming the fourth member a couple of years back. He’s now in Australia but Rikki Arkitech is being groomed to step into the fourth member shoes as his music has been firing lately for the Collective.
As time has gone on, Sharkey has also felt more comfortable to rock the Mic in hard dance clubs as they’ve really embraced what isn’t exactly the norm in their scene — but in my opinion there’s no other MC like him and he always adds rather than overpowers. And obviously, the more music being made, the more variety the PA can offer… and all PA members are in the studio week by week.
In essence, though, the format has remained much the same since their first PA at Pendragon but the stature and excitement generated by it has risen like a phoenix from the flames, with the guys headlining every where from the Opera House in Bournemouth to Sundissential, Tidy Weekender and, of course, their enduring residency for Frantic.
Who else are you hoping to check out on the night? There’s a hell of a lot to see as usual…
Without a doubt the Greg Brookman A.L.I.V.E. PA. I’ve been a fan of his tunes for a while now and have heard plenty of positive things about the PA, but just haven’t seen it yet. It’s just a shame labels aren’t releasing vinyls like they were three years back, as he deserves to be releasing new records by the week. He’s certainly making enough quality music…
What are some of your best Brixton Academy memories, HHA or otherwise?
Seeing Lab 4 rock Pendragon NYE in 2001 was special, The Chemical Brothers last year was one of the most amazing gigs I’ve ever been to too, but by far the best moment was moshing at the front to ‘Break ‘N’ Enter’ during the Prodigy singles tour. They’ve been my favourites for years, total pioneers, and being in the thick of it for my favourite Prodigy track with some of my oldest and best mates was something else…
The event is being run in association with HQ from Holland… have you had any adventures in the Netherlands before? Dish the dirt!
Ha ha… now you come to mention it I have. Haven’t most of us? Dance Valley, my first mushroom experience and convincing myself that the stage Hybrid were playing [on] was actually a private beach clearing on a deserted island was moderately amusing, but then that whole trip had disappeared under a misty green haze far before that. In my defence the visual screens were projecting aquatic images… I think.
Who’s the biggest whinger at Nu Energy?
Erm…. Probably me to be fair. Although I don’t do it often. Honest guv.
Who’s the person least likely to get stressed out?
Probably Kev…he might be able to fire up a dancefloor at the drop of a record but he does like to keep a cool head does our Kev.
Photos thanks to Allan and Benz.
Frantic Presents: Hard House Academy
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On:
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Saturday 25th February 2006
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At:
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Brixton Academy [map]
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From:
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2030 - 0600
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Cost:
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£14/£17/£20
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Ticket Info:
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Frantic HQ 07949 618 035/ amanda@franticuk.com (No Booking Fee/ Group Discount of 1 FREE for Every 5 you buy!)
Ticketweb: 08700 600 100 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
Clubtickets: 0870 246 1840 / www.clubtickets.co.uk (Group Discount of 1 FREE for Every 5 you buy!)
Vince Coach/Tickets in the Midlands 07835 626 226
4Clubbers www.4clubbers-shop.net / 0870 0423 581
Never Enough Maria 07813 684 399
Cyberdog Camden Markets 0207 482 2842
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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Frantic presents:
HARD HOUSE ACADEMY
@ Brixton Academy, Stockwell Road, London
Saturday 25th February 2006
20:30 - 06:00
This is what we’ve all been waiting for! The biggest Hard House event in the world teams up with the people behind biggest dance music festival in the world for one unforgettable night! Hard House Academy goes GLOBAL!
UDC are the Dutch super-promoters behind the massive Dance Valley Festival, and also the immense HQ - Holland’s most successful Hard House club which hosts a 15,000 capacity arena at the festival itself. If there’s any Hard House club in the world that knows how to party like Frantic - then HQ is it.
Frantic in 2006 is all about diversity. We are committed to bringing you only the finest Hard House, Hard Trance, Hardstlye, House and Electro on the planet, and will strive to keep our line-ups varied, exciting, and on the cutting-edge of electronic music.
In an intense battle of UK Hard House against pounding European Hard Dance, HQ and the CB Bookings DJ Agency will bring only their biggest and best DJs to HHA:
• Stomp your heart out to the true showman Fausto’s hardstyle rhythms and listen to HQ Resident JP’s eclectic blend of tough beats as he goes head to head with Frantic Resident Steve Hill.
• Experience Hard House 21st Century style as the superbly talented Organ Donors and Kutski go head-to-head for an exclusive 4-decks, 2 mixers, FX + Scratch set that will be the most exciting thing Hard House has seen for years!
• Andy Whitby return’s to the HHA Main Stage for an exclusive 3 Decks, 3 CDJs, Pioneer EFX Unit to show why Frantic is number 1 alongside a show-stopping live set from Nu Energy Collective!
• Catch Greg Brookman present his A.L.I.V.E PA set as well as Lisa Pin-Up and her Classic FREEDOM set!
The Foyer brings you the best in NuBreed UK Hard House talent alongside legends of the scene including Spencer Freeland and Phil Reynolds with an exclusive Classic Frantic Closing Set! The Balcony Bar is looking unmissable, with the resurgent Oblivion Recordings bringing you the finest producer/DJs in the land, such as Steve Blake, MDA & Spherical and the cheeky duo Wid&Ben. Meanwhile those sexy Brazillians from Never Enough will be dishing out slick, dirty House and Electro grooves all night long in the Corridor!
We will once again be using the mighty festival-standard Line Array Soundsystem in the Main Room alongside punchy Funktion One systems in the rest of the venue. Plus we’ll be teaming up with Halo to create the ultimate stage and lighting experience! HHA will feature our most powerful laser ever!
HHA is known across the world as the be all and end all of Hard House and Hard Trance events. That’s why we’ve got 300 Dutch nutters coming over from Holland especially for the event, our Brazillian massive, hundreds of party-mad Japanese, and all types from across the UK - from glammed-up girlies to cybergoths - HHA is for everyone!
For all you HHA fans in continental Europe we will holding HHA Holland on Saturday 18th Feb with Cally Gage, Andy Whitby, Proteus and many more!
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Flyer:
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